Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles • Hacker News Board

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#21

Post by larnmar » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 2:21 AM UTC

dogma1138 wrote: post #14

larnmar wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If casualties are zero, we can laugh it off as an impotent hissy fit by an incompetent adversary. If casualties are non-zero, the President will be obliged to carry out his “52 targets” threat. This is probably the right move — don’t play tit-for-tat against a less powerful adversary, instead immediately escalate to a level they can’t possibly match. Unfortunately Iran’s air defences are more potent than anyone the U…

Iranian air defenses are on about the same level as Syria and Israel has been running circles around those. The US might actually get to use it’s SEAD capabilities for a change....

You could well be right, maybe Iran’s air defences are on a par with Syria’s.

I’ve suddenly realised something important — I’m commenting on important issues based on nothing but information gleaned from probably equally ignorant comments posted somewhere else. Why the heck am I doing this? I’m no expert on Iranian military capabilities.

Why do we all feel compelled to pollute the Internet with our ill-informed speculation on important issues?

I feel like I should just quit commenting on anything outside the narrow areas in which I’m a proper expert, and so should everyone else.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#22

Post by lazyasciiart » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 2:22 AM UTC

dforrestwilson wrote: post #3

Things are about to get real. If launched from Iranian territory there is a pretty clear case for the US to go to war. I know the “WW3” meme is popular right now but Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

When one country's government openly assassinates a senior member of another country's government, the second country might reasonably feel that war had already begun.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#23

Post by sdinsn » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 2:31 AM UTC

andrei_says_ wrote: post #2

Is this how it ends?

How Iran ends? Maybe

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#24

Post by sdinsn » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 2:34 AM UTC

If Iraq stated that US strikes violated their sovereignty, surely they would say the same about Iran's strikes?

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#25

Post by burfog » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 2:59 AM UTC

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #4

dforrestwilson wrote: post #3

Things are about to get real. If launched from Iranian territory there is a pretty clear case for the US to go to war. I know the “WW3” meme is popular right now but Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

If the article is correct, they were not only launched from Iran, but Iran admits it. This is going to get very interesting in terms of internal US politics. The Democrats don't trust Trump, including in terms of his motives and judgment in dealing with Iran. They also, in general, oppose war. They're trying to use the War Powers Act to reign him in. But if they do so, and prevent a response to this latest attack, th…

Democrat voters may oppose war, but the same can not be said for democrat politicians.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#26

Post by burfog » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 3:03 AM UTC

lurker2823 wrote: post #6

dforrestwilson wrote: post #3

Things are about to get real. If launched from Iranian territory there is a pretty clear case for the US to go to war. I know the “WW3” meme is popular right now but Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

Maybe US should just leave the region where it isn't welcome. Also, if this were to turn into a conventional war, I predict the US would suffer massive losses, unless they resort to using tactical nukes. The US hasn't been on the winning side of a war since WW2.

The US has won every war as much as was desired, and it will continue to do so. Every supposed "loss" occurs in DC politics, not as a result of inability on the battlefield.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#27

Post by SaxonRobber » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 3:08 AM UTC

fnord77 wrote: post #17

elihu wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks). Iran would lose control of their airspace pretty quickly and we'd be able to drop bombs on whoever we want, but there's no quick way the United States could occupy and control the country in that time (at least, not without resorting to weapons and tactics that would cause massive loss of civilia…

there's no way at all we (the US) could win a boots-on-the-ground war with Iran.

Winning is bad for business anyway.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#28

Post by SaxonRobber » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 3:10 AM UTC

sdinsn wrote: post #24

If Iraq stated that US strikes violated their sovereignty, surely they would say the same about Iran's strikes?

Iran probably received permission from Iraq. They have a strong influence on the country al all levels.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#29

Post by SaxonRobber » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 3:13 AM UTC

lazyasciiart wrote: post #22

dforrestwilson wrote: post #3

Things are about to get real. If launched from Iranian territory there is a pretty clear case for the US to go to war. I know the “WW3” meme is popular right now but Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

When one country's government openly assassinates a senior member of another country's government, the second country might reasonably feel that war had already begun.

Republican bobble heads gave up reason, along with morality and honesty, a long long time ago.

Re: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ballistic missiles

#30

Post by lurker2823 » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 3:42 AM UTC

burfog wrote: post #26

lurker2823 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe US should just leave the region where it isn't welcome. Also, if this were to turn into a conventional war, I predict the US would suffer massive losses, unless they resort to using tactical nukes. The US hasn't been on the winning side of a war since WW2.

The US has won every war as much as was desired, and it will continue to do so. Every supposed "loss" occurs in DC politics, not as a result of inability on the battlefield.

sure, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea (not to mention the countless 'anti-terrorism' strikes throughout Africa), all shining examples of 'winning'. Much like Charlie Sheen.....

I feel sorry for the poor fools who blindly follow the drumbeat of war and think they are doing a patriotic duty to their nation / meat grinder, which chews them up and spits them out once they are done with them.

But hey, Raytheon stocks are up!